A/N: I didn't plan on posting this week but I got the NASA Mars email newsletter and discovered we are in a Mars/Earth solar conjunction so I just had to post the rest of that part of the story
Log entry Sol 972
And we've now entered the back half of the solar conjunction communications blackout. I'm starting to think I should do something ridiculous for them to take pictures of as soon as they have the ability. I haven't done anything ridiculous since the last air day on the trip here to Valles Marineris. This of course means it's past time for me to do something ridiculous. I absolutely have to do something ridiculous. What should I do? What should I do? Off to look around the Hab for inspiration.
Log entry Sol 973
Another sol another… dollar? Can I say that when I'm not being paid? I know; I know; Dr. Astor has payroll banking money for me when I can be declared alive again. If something were to happen to me she'll get it to my parents, almost like a life insurance policy. My parents deserve something after all the hell this has put them through. I'll have to buy them something special. I might have to break down and accept my Mom's setting me up with people. It's time to consider marriage again and possibly children.
Can I even have kids? Will the radiation have screwed that up for me? I can always adopt. Maybe I can even adopt as a single dad. I haven't thought about being a father, not for a long time. I'm not sure I ever did except for a short period when I was married. I mean really thought about it; it's always been on my someday list. I have friends who never wanted kids, but that wasn't me. I just had other things I wanted to accomplish first. I'd say I've accomplished them. Well, I'll say that as soon as I set my feet on good old Earth again. Just wait until I have a teenager, think of all of the "back in my day" stories I can tell. Not only do I have good ones from growing up, hello pandemic, I also have "survived a decompression on Mars" and "survived traveling cross-planet on Mars to beat a deadly sandstorm" among others.
My poor future kids are doomed. They'll never be able to compete with my horrible stories. Then again, that also means they'll always know anything is possible if you just stick with it. If you just don't get up you can accomplish anything you want. Will that be too much pressure? The biggest stars in Hollywood have kids who have grown up with the pressure of highly successful parents. So do the children of national politicians, especially kids that spent part of their lives growing up in the White House. Then there were the kids of the early astronauts… Can you imagine being the child of the first man to set foot on the moon? All that to say, if I have kids, they'll be okay. I probably shouldn't harp on all of my horrible experiences though.
Log entry Sol 974
I am so glad they sent me more Earth soil in the supply probe. At least I still have my plants to talk to and not feel as crazy as I do when I talk to Soju. I'm enjoying the green. It's a treat to have the green and not just the red of Mars. Red everywhere, and yet in my little home, I have green. I have a respite from the monotony of red. Hmm… I suddenly have the urge to watch tv.
Log entry Sol 974 (2)
I'm back. Yes, I went and watched an episode of crappy seventies television. Except of course, it wasn't actually crappy television, not to me anyway. I watched an episode of M*A*S*H where Hawkeye is over everything being green and wants some red in his life. Seemed like a good idea to watch. Then of course I had to watch a few more episodes. That's the one show in Lewis's collection that I can watch over and over again, especially when I can turn off the laugh track.
Log entry Sol 975
Again not much to report tosol, I honestly didn't do much at all. I've already finished all of the science tasks NASA sent for me to do over two weeks. I'm not telling them that though, when I talk to them again that is. I'm not telling them that what they sent took me less time than they expected. That would just result in my being overloaded with tasks. I deserve sols off just like everyone else. I say that as if I never get a break, but I do get time off. They only send me assignments for approximately five sols, then I get two off. Basically, I get weekends. Still, it's nice to get a "vacation".
Log entry Sol 976
Three days left to come up with something ridiculous for NASA to see when they can use the satellites again, and I've still got nothing. I used up most of my good ideas on the trip here to Valles Marineris. I thought about putting up the pop-tents but figured that would worry them and what would be the point anyway? I don't have enough spare canvas or… wait a minute. I have an idea. I'm not sure I can make it work. I have to go see what I can find.
Log entry Sol 976 (2)
Well, I'm still mulling over my idea. I've gone through the supplies. I could probably use a sheet if I'm willing to give one up. I can write on it with Sharpies, though for the amount I'd need to use, I might end up high from the fumes. I could also use duct tape if I'm willing to spare it, and I'm not sure I am. So, I'm still thinking. If I were willing to use the duct tape, I could possibly get it back off and still use the sheet. The Sharpie and its smell will stick around no matter what I do. Yeah, I still need to think a bit longer.
Log entry Sol 977
I've done a bit of digging. I'm going to attempt to make mud paint with Mars dust. You wanna know why, don't you? I'm not telling, not yet. Maybe not ever if it doesn't work. I only have tosol and tomorsol to work. They're supposed to start taking images again the day after. Besides, you already know it has something to do with a sheet, that should be enough.
Log entry Sol 977 (2)
Mars mud paint seems to work, but I don't have a good brush to use as a paintbrush. If I were painting something small, I'd use my hair. However, this is big so I'm still working on that. The advantage to using mud paint over Sharpie is I can "wash" the mud the sheet back out when I'm done. I'll just run water over it, a lot of water. It'll take a while to get it to fade but at least it will fade. It also shows up well on the small section of the sheet I tried it out on. The satellite imagers should be good enough to pick it up.
Log entry Sol 977 (3)
I figured out how to create a paintbrush. I wadded up an old worn-out shirt and taped it over the end of a sample pole. It looked more like one of those bingo dotting tools but it worked. Now to rig this up to be seen. I don't want to lay it on the ground, the dirt will just blow over it and obscure the message. I'm going to string it between two rovers parallel to the ground. Time to move the rovers into position. The sign won't get hung up until tomorsol though, just so there's less time for it to get dirty from dust in the wind. And now I've got that song playing in my head. Well, at least it's not disco.
Log entry Sol 978
The sign is hung, now to wait for a response from NASA. I'm going to enjoy my last day of silence by watching some Marvel movies, listening to some music, and playing solitaire. I might even compose an email to send with all of my questions, or not. That can wait.
Mindy sailed into SatCon with a smile and a slight tan. "Do we have images yet?" she asked.
"Soon, I think," the technician on duty replied. "Program for imaging was transmitted and we received an acknowledgment. Should be another five minutes or so."
"Images?" Annie wanted to know as she came through the doors.
"Not yet," Mindy replied.
"How much longer?" Venkat was right on Annie's heels with Melody behind him.
"I can email you all the photos," the technician said and sighed as the Ares III crew trailed into the room followed by countless others.
Mindy chuckled and silently empathized with the tech but didn't make a move to leave.
"We'll be out of your hair as soon as we see the images," she assured him.
"Then we'll all head to Mission Control and bother Mitch, while we wait for CapCom to get a response from Mark," Annie said.
"They're here," the tech announced. "Just a second and I'll get them on the big screen."
As the image popped up, everyone cheered, then a few laughed loudly.
"What does that say?" Venkat asked.
"It says 'I assure you we're open'" Rick managed to get out between guffaws.
"Time to go talk to Taylor," Beth said. "She's on CapCom duty. You know what his first message is going to be don't you?"
"I have no idea," Annie replied.
"Oh Annie, we have to update your movie education," Mindy said with a smile as they all left SatCon with the technician shaking his head behind them.
Thirty minutes later Taylor bit her lip, turned to the crowd surrounding her station as well as the entire back of Mission Control, and said, "Anyone want to take a guess."
"Ah come on Taylor," Beck answered and rolled his eyes. "We know what he said."
"I'd bet you're off by one word," she shot back."
"Tosol, he said tosol instead of today," Mindy guessed. "Right?"
"Yep."
"I'm not even," Mindy began and over half the group finished with her, "supposed to be here tosol."
A/N: short chapter, and headed for the last few large time jumps. I was trying to figure out just what Mark would do to surprise them and naturally, Kevin Smith popped into my head. Clerks III is currently sitting on my stack to watch with hubby when I get a chance. Our son is at the age to start watching them (if he hasn't already) and Mark just seems like a character who'd love the View Askewniverse. BTW sorry no Mindy/Annie story in case anyone was looking forward to that. Maybe sometime in the future.